Lock mechanism.



G. E. CLEAVER.

Loox MBGHANISM. APPLIDATION FILED FEB.25,1!314.

3a g3 ,3 176113 f5 1,4 5 /V /V gem GEORGE E. CLEAVER, 0F READING PENNSYLVANIA.

LOCK MECHANISM.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jam. 26, 1915.

Original npplication leei` latch 24, i913. Serial No. 756.366 Divided and this appIication tiled lehnt!! 85, 1914. Serial No. 380,837,

To al! wlw/u it may cum-ern lle it known that I, (nonos E. Clin-aven, a citizen of the United` States. and resident oi Bending, county of 'Berlin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented :in Improvement in Loek Mechanism, of vghieh the following is il' specification.

My invention relates to improvements in loi-ks. end more particularly to the latch-bolt therefor; and the present application is tiled :is a division of application Serial No. 756.366, filed Merch 24th, 1913.

The invention has for an object. to Frovifle a latch bolt for unit locks or the ike, 'which is formed as n complete unitary strueture simplifying the assemblage of the. lock and providing a more effective operative mrt. I My invention has for n further object the reversibility of the lnteh bolt, whereby this may be done in a rapid and e'ective manner because of the unitary arrangement of the boltianrl its actuating spring.

My invention also has for an additional object, the embodiment of antifriction features in the lntching end of the latch bolt and cooperation therewith of s eciel socket provisions in the case in whic the buffer 1s pivoted with capacity of reversal.

M v invention consists of the reversible and anti-friction features of the latch bolt1 all as hereinafter fully set forth. Moreover, my im vroved latch bolt embodies, as a part thereo a yoke body and n 'coiled spring for actuating the latch bolt, to normally move it to protracted position, said spring surrounding n smooth or finished guide within the yoke and so mounted thereon as to eliminate the possibility of its becoming disengaged from the latch bolt proper.

My invention also comprehends other features of eonstruction which. together with those above speeified, are fully set ont hereinnfter nml more particularly defined in the claims.

My improvement will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. which illustrate my invention in its preferred form.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 represents n side elevation of, a portion of the lock proper with the side plate removed and the front plete in section to show the latch bolt and its associated parte; Fig. 2 represents a transverse section Ondine --zr of Fig. l; und Fig. l represents a perspective of the latch bolt.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding ports.

designates the box portion of the lock rase which,y as generally arranged, is se. cured to the front late :l and is provided vwith a removable si e plate 3 through which ueeess is had to the mechanism contained within the case, and by which said mechanism is proteeted when the lock is in use.

l designates the lat/ch bolt body, havin a yoke formed therein, in which is fitted a rodor tube guide (i of rolled or drawn metal, thereby providing a smooth guide at low cost. This guide tube or rod 6 is held in place h v having one end fitted to a rojeetion or ing and the other end recelved in a recess and held therein by the lu 8 bent over it, both said projection 7 and lug 8 being formed as a body. The guide ti is arranged in a slot formed in s ing 9 extending up from the side of the ruse l, though it will be noted that this lng 9 is of e size to clear the sides of the body 4 so as to avoid all unnecessary friction. The rear end of the bolt 4 has a tail 'i0 formin lateral projections npon each side of the bof.; y and actin with the sides of the ense a lateral gui ing means. The bolt is further guided against vertical disilacernent by the part 11 of the knob-hub ever l and the fixed lng 13y extending from the rase wall. coiled spring 14 enoircles the guide tube or rod (i and has one endpressing `,.igsinst a follower 15 sliclably mounted upon the guide 6 and normally held against the sotted lug 9, said spring thereby acting to protrnet the latch bolt and maintain the latrh leier 16 in operative relation with its associated parts inet shown).

The fixed lng 13 acts not only as a guide for the tail und of the latch bolt, but also as a limitL stop in its protraetion sinoe it is in the path of movement of the latch lever 16 and the latter acts directly as a stop for the tnil part 10 of the latch bolt.

As my improved latch bolt contains the coiled spring H, as n nnit with it, on handling of the latch bolt or separation of it from the remaining portions of the lock can disengage the propel' relation of this s ring und its guide with the latch bolt body. Moreover, the guide tube or rod 6 acting as u support and guide for the coiled spring part of the latch boit vso allows a suitable sprin to be employed which will exactly meet t e requirements of the bolt without necessitating that the spring be abnormally stiE.

An advantage of my improved retained box latch bolt sprin and latch construction shown, is that the lt has its own sprin and is cast to length without .particular a terations, as against a bar bolt heretofore employed with a riveted tail piece which must be fitted and which, if not donc well, will loosen in time. which have been cast in one piece have Valways had coil springs as a separate piece, said springs Heating, as it were, and ready to jump out an time the lock cap was re moved; and w ich also, on reversing the bolt, requires it to be reversed separately and the spring applied afterward. It has heretofore been found, that if the separate springs were not set in properly, or if the lock were not fitted in a goed workmanship manner, such spring would scratch and retard action. In my improved bolt, however, the spring is held in place at all times by the smooth guide rod or tube 6, and there is no possibility foi-the spring becoming disenga d or taking an undesirable sha hehead of the latch bolt 4 is s own as provided with the usual inclined surfaces 1T and with an intermediate slot 18 l.in which is arranged an anti-friction center buffer 19. This anti-friction center buler 19 is provided at its axialend 20 with a semicylindrical portion which fits into a recess 21 formed between the front plate2 and the case plate 3. The case plate 3 is provided with a recess 22 having guide ribs 23 extending inward from the recess 21 and over which ribs the bolt head may slide with relatively small friction, if any, the buer end `2() ranting in the recess 2l aforesaid. The gp osite end of the center buler 19 is provi e with an extension 24 which, acting against the bolt head, limits its outward movement, but said buer is free to swin about its pivot end` 2O in an inward direction andact as a lever in cooperating with the part 25 of the bolt head to start the retraction of the latch bolt upon closingr the door. The extension 24 of the buffer 19 acts at all times to prevent dis engagement of the buffer from the bolt head.

I have shown the latch bolt as reversible, and this is made possible by providing, between the end plate 2 andthe case 1', asimilar recess 26 to that shown on the o posite side at 21, and in further providing t e case part 1 with a similar recess27 having guide ribs 28. It will be understood, by reference to Fig. 2, that if the latch bolt 4 is reversed, the semi-cylindrical part 20 'would fit into the recess,26 and the projecting end or cxtension 24 would then be received in the recess 20, 'ust as it now is received inthe recess 26. -t will be seen that Vboth the head Other bolt shanks and prevent and tail of the bolt are each dis d substantially ually on each side o the guide 6, so that ethe bolt as a"ivhole, may be reversed in the case and properly coperatie with saidcase and with the remaining operative parts of the lock structure.

In my improved construction of anti-friction bolt, the latch bolt is provided with a. center buffer instead of a side buer, es heretofore commonly cmplo ed; and as shown, the bolt head is cl on the back ozthe part 25 providing a broad back portion in connection with the center bufer, almost hiding the bull'er and strengthening the bolt and providing a central support for the 'de tube 6.

. y improved casing allows not only of then' employment of the anti-friction bucr with its reversible feature, as above described, andproviding ressed portions 22 and 27 through which the anti-friction central buli'er may reciprocate' when the bolt is retracted, but said recessed portions are rovided with ribs or tracks 23 and 28 and ese i the solid portion of the bolt head it from falling laterally 'inside of the 'case when the bolt is retracted, should the anti-friction buler permit such lateral movement of the bolt head, said solid rtion of the bolt being plroperly form in order toA be guided by t e ribs or tracks to bridge the gaps or momes 21 and 26 when fully retracting the bolt,as` will'be fully understood by re erence to Fig. 2. lt'will be understood that this saine lock case may be used with a solid bolt head in which the buffer I9 is dispensed with, where such antifriction device is not desired or'reqired. This willbc equiviilent to lcavni'thoantifriction bn'er 19 of of the etch bolt, whether because it was l worn, yinjured or otherwise.

The knob -hub lever 12. is pivoted to the case and normally held out of action upon the latch bolt tail by a spring 29' and with its me' guide free end resting under the tail 10 of the said liitch bolt for retracting it by operation of the door knob. This lever l2 has a curved lll 13 on the case acts to guide the upper part of said latch bolt when the latter is withdrawn by means other than the door knob. The part 11 of the lever l2 also actsasa moving guide for the latch bolt tail, and in conjunction with the lixed guide lu 18, guides the latch bolt at the time Mdm?!- nob is acting to withdraw or ymet it. The particular advantage of this ans, that it produces 'a perfectly straight or rectilinear retraction of the latch bolt from one end of its movement to the other, and with a minimum of friction.

The knob lever 12`is operated' by Hic qilit i. omiso provided with 'Squaw holes 81 for the lai-0b p spindle 0i spindles in'order thit they may bedglrlmerl rotated. lAs a -ineens torclead lo 'ngfei T di tin` 'but' ports 30,`they are each provided With a nofnh 1; adapted to reoeve the stop-plunger H3 whdh is o dbv the stops of the stop mechanism.

is *mechanism consists of two 34 and 35 made alike and working through ap'I-ts in *the 'front *plate 2 of the The inner ends of these stops have pins 36 and "B7 which respectively tit in openings formed on opposite ends of the stop rbeam vlever 38. the latter being pinoted :it 39 to the lock case. The :stop plunger 33 is guided in the case at 40 close to the hub part which it rgeges and the other end is provided with an opening fitting upon the pin 36 `'f the stop 34. In this way the knob hub part may be dead-locked or dogged by a construction Which is simple, cheap and durable and so formed as to enable its parts to be interchangeable. The stop beam lever connects the stop to simultaneously reverse their movements and position their inner ends, and the operation of` the plunger to lock the hub is a direct action from the Stop 34, with which it is jointed. The end of the stop beam lever 38 is preferably made angular to receive the end of a spring 41 which acts to ixedly hold the lever in its two extreme positions of adjustment. The stop mechanism just described forms the snbjectmatter of a separate application filed by me, and therefore will not be described in greater detail in 'the present application.

It will now be seen that I have provided a complete box latch bolt structure wherein the latch bolt embodies as a component part thereof the spring for actuating it, whereby the use of separate springs is eliminated and likewise the possibility of the spring becoming displaced. Furthermore, the spring is contained substantially within the latch bolt and is mounted upon a smooth guide so that the parts operate effectively and efficiently with a minimum amount of friction and with a direct central thrust. The entire construction is simple and the )arts comprising the saine are few and may e manufactured and assembled at low cost.

It will norv be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful rtmstruction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable. and hilo l have in the present instance shown and def-:cribcd the )referred embodiment thereot` which has iieen found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. it r to he understood that l do not restrict myself to the details. as the same are .uiscepriblc or' modication in various mrti'culars without departing from fthe spirit 'or-'scope of the invention.

.'Havingfthus-descrlbed my invention, what I-rlfaim and 'desire to securefby Letters 4Patent is:-

l. Inh lfrck,the comhindtio'n with a case having nn'end p'late and 'side plates recessed alljwcent to 'theien-d plate and also having sorkets between the recessed portions and the fend plate, Vwith a reversible latch bolt having an antfriction buffer Amovable with respect 'to 'the 'head of the latch bolt and having on one side a ivot -bearing portion Y a ted to ivdrk in leit er of the sochet'por tif s an'c'l-on the other side an extension to rest against the rear edge of 4'the bolt head and-to sn-*irfg through either of the recessed portions alicording to which socket the bier lis receiiffed and a spring acting to maintain said butler in operative ostion.

Q. In a lock,th'e combination wit a case httiirfg an end plate and side plates recessed adjacent to the end plate and also having sockets between the recessed portions and the end plate, with a reversible latch bolt formed with n head provided with a central buffer recess and having a central antifriction buffer movable in said recess with respect to the Yhead of the latch bolt and having on one side a pivot bearing portion adapted to work in either of the socket portions and on the other side an extension to rest against the rear edge of the bolt head and to swing through either of the recessed portions according to which socket the buffer is received and a spring acting to maintain said buffer in o erative position.

3. In a lock, a case, a etch bolt guided therein for sliding movement, an anti-fric.- tion buffer having pivoted engagement with one side of said case and bearin against said bolt, means at the opposite si e of said case forming .im abutment to limit the outward range of movement of said buer and also of the latch bolt. and n spring actin to force the bolt outward and maintain sai buli'cr normally under pressure to prevent loose play thereof.

4. In a lock. a case having an end plate and recessed portions on each side extending ton-ard the end plate and separated from. the end plate by deep sockets. said recessed portions provided with guides extending from the socket portions away from the end plate. combined with a reversible latch bolt having a head portion adapted to travel over said guides. and an anti-friction buffer cooperating with the head of the latch holt, said buffer havin a journal lart at one side adapted to eit 1er of the soc et portions and a projection on the other side to act as a limit stop and free to swine in thc recessed portions of the case. projection of the buffer being out of alinement with the guides.

6 of the lug and also havin 5. In a lock, a case having a slotted lug and an end plate, combined with a latch boltcastin formed with a box body having :i width o? opening greater than the width a, head :it one mnd guided-in the end p ate of the case and a tail part at the other end havin laterally extending parts 10 of a com ined width equal to the head portion and guided lo by the case', means separate from the lugl whereby the tail portion is guided against vertical displacement and the latch bolt as arvrhole guided in alinement with the slot in the lu i, a smooth guide secured in position longitudinally of the holt and arranged within the box portion thereof, and a coil spring surrounding the guide, said ide `moving' through the slot of the lug anifsaid .spring pressing :it one end against said lug.

In a lock,'a cast latch consisting of the box body 4 having the head formed with the solid back 25 having the projef'tion 7 und the thin tail provided with the lateral parts 10 of a total width equal to that of the head, combined with a smooth hollow guide rod 6 fitted in the open part -of the box body and upon the projection 7 of the head atone end and extending to and clamped in position in the tail portion, and :i coil spring surrounding the smooth guide and pressing against the head portion of the bolt.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand. l

GEGRGE E. CLEAVER.

Vitnessesz SARA G. RHoADs, ANXA E. RHoADs.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,126,180.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent. No. 1,126,180. granted January 2li4 1915, were erroneously issued 'to the inventor, George E. Cleaver, of Reading, Pennsylvania; whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued to f/m Hardware Company, a corpo/aibn of 'wmsylvania, said corporation being owner of the entire interest in said invention, :is lshown hy the rccordh of assignments in thi office; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with this correction therein' Athat the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of March, A. D., 1915.

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commiaswnw of lagns. 

